The EUR 70 million finance contract for the construction of Besançon’s first tramway line – optimal public transport infrastructure connecting the main residential areas in Greater Besançon – was signed in Besançon in the presence of Jean-Louis Fousseret, Mayor and President of the Urban Community of Besançon, and Philippe de Fontaine Vive Curtaz, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank.
Against the current backdrop of lending contraction on the market, this long-term loan on attractive terms is key for the Urban Community of Besançon, enabling it to optimise its overall plan for financing the project at a total investment cost of EUR 228 million (2008 prices).
For this Exclusive Lane Public Transport (ELPT) operation, the loan will go towards the construction of the first 14.5 km tram line (east-west) serving 31 stations, the acquisition of 19 trams with a capacity of 132 passengers (calculated at four passengers/m²) and the construction of a maintenance/sidings centre and five park-and-ride facilities to encourage a modal shift away from private cars.
This is an innovative, sustainable project, aimed at optimising:
- the public transport service in terms of regularity, comfort and time savings. Running on the basis of a five-minute frequency on the central section, the tramway’s capacity will be around 1 200 passengers/hour in each direction. The rate of usage is expected to reach 46 500 journeys/day in 2015.
- the quality of life of the population of Greater Besançon through improved services to the main centres and deprived districts of the metropolitan area such as Brûlard, Palente-Orchamps and Planoise.
- the development of a modal shift away from private cars towards alternative means of transport, helping to truly reduce noise pollution and pollutant emissions from motor vehicle traffic (an estimated reduction of some 3 150 tCO2/year). Four public transport interchange stations and five park-and-ride facilities will be built to encourage a modal shift from private cars to the tramway. When the tramway is opened, the park-and-ride facilities will provide 630 parking spaces, which can be increased to 1 030 spaces.
This project will also be able to generate the equivalent of 1 400 jobs during its implementation period.
“This is a key financing operation for the Besançon tramway”, commented EIB Vice-President Philippe de Fontaine Vive at the signing ceremony. “This is an innovative, sustainable project that will help directly to improve the daily lives of the inhabitants of Greater Besançon while clearly stimulating economic and social development in the region.”
“I am delighted that the EIB has teamed up with the Urban Community of Besançon to carry out this infrastructure project of key importance to the future of our region”, remarked Jean-Louis Fousseret, Mayor and President of the Urban Community of Besançon. “With the tramway, the city of Besançon is addressing the challenges facing regional capitals in the 21st century by embracing sustainable, environmentally-friendly mobility.”
This financing operation demonstrates the EIB’s growing commitment to assisting France’s local and regional authorities, especially in the key areas of urban development, clean transport, renewable energy and energy efficiency. Since January 2012, through the catalytic effect on its financing partners, the EIB’s support for French local and regional authorities has enabled EUR 5.8 billion worth of investment. This commitment is destined to become even stronger following the European Council’s decision to increase the Bank’s capital by EUR 10 billion.